YWAM offers training programs in over 400 locations and over 100 nations. YWAM’s global university is called the University of the Nations (U of N). U of N is a global educational network consisting of eight faculties, and offers a wide course selection.

The U of N offers training in Arts, Christian Ministries, Communications, Counseling & Health Care, Education, Humanities & International Studies, and Science & Technology. The university seeks to combine traditional classroom learning with a discipleship atmosphere and practical mission field experience. The University of the Nations hosts students from all around the world, and most schools are bilingual. While there are seven main campuses internationally, almost 400 YWAM locations host U of N schools.

Most of the oldest universities in Europe and in North America were founded by churches to train servants for churches and the whole society. The same way U of N aims at growing leaders to serve the nations within the church and also in other spheres of society. Being discipled, growing in character, and growing stronger in God relationship, are important parts of the U of N trainings.

To apply for a U of N course, you must first complete the Discipleship Training School (DTS). You find countless training opportunities at the  U of N home page www.uofn.edu. Once you’ve found a training program that interests you, you can get more information directly from the location offering the course.

Note: Not all YWAM schools are registered or approved for credit by the U of N. To find U of N registered schools (including DTS) you must check the www.uofn.edu.

Founded upon biblical principles, the University of the Nations (UofN) fulfills its commitment to Christ and His Great Commission by equipping men and women spiritually, culturally, intellectually, and professionally, and inspiring them to use their God-given abilities to communicate and demonstrate the gospel in all nations.

Viewing the world as both its classroom and venue for ministry, the University of the Nations is committed to teaching and developing Christian men and women called to evangelize and teach others. Special priority for service is given to nations, cities, and people groups which have had the least access to the message of the gospel. An integrated approach to ministry, including evangelism, meeting physical needs, and issues of justice are presented biblically and worked out practically.

The University seeks to broaden the scope of evangelistic endeavours by equipping students to serve in all areas of society (domains or spheres), in all nations, in response to Jesus’ declaration that we are the salt and light of the world.Learning to think biblically and discern spiritually, applying scriptural truth to every area of life, prepares students for going to the nations, through the various spheres of their calling.

The U of N approach to education is based on 2 Peter 1:5-8 which urges development of godly qualities, adding to faith: moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. This character development is emphasised through the lectures, assignments, interpersonal relationships, and daily activities from the beginning of the student’s education and throughout every course.

While committed to educational excellence, the University achieves its goals through an emphasis on knowing and loving God and seeking His revelation and guidance. Intercession and worship are an integral part of every course. God’s ways are lived out in student and staff relationships through forgiveness, openness, repentance, honouring the gifts and abilities of each person, unity, teamwork, hospitality, servant leadership and loving one another as commanded by Jesus.

Each course in every College/Faculty of the U of N is a “multiplier for missions,” serving to increase the workers, resources, and ministries for the mission field. International in scope, the courses provide cross-cultural training related to the specific educational content, and are designed to be applicable in real-life situations. Field assignments with cross-cultural experiences for every student are a fundamental feature of the University training programs.

Eighteen years after its inception in 1960, Youth With A Mission (YWAM) founded the Pacific & Asia Christian University (PACU), launching the first campus in 1978 in Kona, Hawaii. PACU was founded on the basis that students could be educated in skills to help them bring the Gospel into the foundational areas of society worldwide. A development guide was created to develop seven Colleges/Faculties and several multi-disciplinary Centres that would educate and train students in those areas. A master plan for the campus was prepared by a team of planners and architects who carefully considered the best environment for implementing the founding principles. University schools were developed rapidly in many nations and on six continents. Many of these schools were linked with PACU. However, the regional and local names no longer reflected the worldwide scope and unity of YWAM’s higher education. Therefore, the Board of Regents unanimously adopted the new name, University of the Nations (UofN), at their meeting in 1988. The name change took place officially on June 2, 1989.

The UofN is unique in its international missionary training scope with school locations in over 100 nations on all continents. Because the various nations’ accrediting agencies have major differences in their systems, the U of N has not, at present, applied for any one nation’s accreditation. The schools in U of N Colleges/Faculties adhere to quality standards and are all committed to excellence. The content of all U of N academic programmes is designed to be very close to the needs of a Christian in his or her chosen workplace, and courses require serious commitment and diligence. The courses are taught by expert staff who are widely recognised in their fields of study.

The University of Nations is unique. It is global, cross-cultural, and adaptable. Approximately 15,000 students a year take one or more registered courses in 60 languages in 400 locations. Our training combines elements of both formal and non-formal education, with a commitment to worshiping God in spirit and truth, in all that we do.

Universities first began as ministries of the Church, training leaders for the Church and society. In a similar way, the U of N seeks to train leaders from around the world who are called to the nations, whether they serve in the domain of the Church or in other domains of society. The U of N encourages people to take courses as needed to help them become more effective missionaries. Whatever the context or means of working out that calling, the common goal of obedience to Christ’s commission to go and make disciples of all nations is the prime motivating factor in developing training in the form of seminars, courses, and conferences. Some of the key strategies employed towards reaching that goal are described later on in this information section about the U of N.

The University of the Nations has developed a modular approach to education. The modular system enhances learning by providing students with intensive and focused time on each topic. Typically, visiting teachers spend a full week or two on their area of expertise, which allows the students to focus upon and absorb one subject at a time. The concentrated study of a single subject during a twelve-week term prepares the student to work effectively in a subsequent field assignment in a missions setting.

Another benefit of the modular system is the mobility it allows the students and faculty. For example, a communication student may take an introductory communication course and a photography course at one U of N campus, followed by a photography internship on the mission field. Then he or she may choose to take video and graphics courses at UofN locations in other countries. The student will not only acquire academic training, but also will gain the invaluable opportunity to live in the context of various cultures. These experiences impart a broader understanding of the world and how the student’s gifts and knowledge could best be applied to the needs in different nations. The mobility of U of N students also permits friendships among people of different nationalities, creating networks of international exchange.

The modular system allows for a different learning strategy. General principles across a whole subject area can be laid out first. Specific details are then introduced as needed to build a working knowledge and ability in the subject area. Thus the student moves “down” into more and more details as they are needed, but these are always in the context of the objectives and applications. This learning strategy has proven to be highly motivational for students because they relate the basic information to the overall purposes for attending the course.

Intensive educational programs which require cooperation and sharing among the participants, followed by the immediate field application of principles learned, is the essence of learning by doing. Research and development are critical to the basic purpose of the University and play a vital part in linking evangelism with the needs of people. Examples include:

•   Food and water resources
•   Community infrastructure
•   Clinical and medical technology
•   Government and business relations
•   Informational technology (IT)
•   Environmental sciences and stewardship of creation
•   Family relationships

The live-learn philosophy is based on the idea of establishing a community where students, staff, and teachers live, eat, and study in close proximity for maximized learning opportunities. Jesus did this with the twelve disciples. Similar biblical examples occur in the schools of the prophets in the Old Testament and in Acts 19. These schools established a community of common values, in which “students” and “faculty” learned together and began to reach out to others to bring change in both individuals and societies.

We believe that learning takes place best in the context of relationships. The strong emphasis placed on building relationships among students and staff provides a secure atmosphere that optimises the learning experience. Informal education occurs through the in-depth relationships developed in a live-learn environment. Non-formal education takes place in many ways, but it is most apparent when students are on field assignments or internships and face tough, real life challenges. Formal education, with systematic development of concepts and presentation of information, occurs typically in the classroom, or with a tutor, or on the field. In all of these contexts students are encouraged to seek revelation, guidance and inspiration from the Holy Spirit.

The UofN live-learn concept is a community learning experience. It is based on the scriptural principle of a body of believers who are one in spirit and working together as a team toward the same objectives. For this reason, teamwork is emphasised at the UofN. Students are often taught to work in teams, such as medical or counseling teams, production and research teams, or traveling performing arts troupes. Teamwork implies a sharing of resources, ideas, talents and a working together in unity. The great variety of course-related activities provides a rich opportunity for relationships to grow among the students and staff.

Because of the modular system, students benefit from the knowledge and skills of resident as well as visiting resource teachers whose values are congruent with those of the mission. Resource teachers come for one or more weeks to teach in their area of expertise. Some hold teaching positions at other colleges or universities, while some are authors, pastors, missionaries, scientists or other professionals. Known nationally or internationally for their competency in an area of subject matter, these resource teachers bring richness and diversity to campus life. With the inclusion of resource teachers, the quality of the course is not dependent on one teacher, but on many specialised teachers. In addition, the visiting teachers are available for private consultation in areas of particular interest to individual students.

The U of N’s modular schools are coordinated by school leaders and their staff, who are full-time volunteers with Youth With A Mission (YWAM). The school leaders facilitate the visiting resource teachers, often teach part of the course themselves, and work intensively with school staff to train them to be leaders themselves. They not only bring continuity and integration to the course, but also they strive to bring a high level of unity and interaction among the students. School staff coordinate extracurricular activities for the students, meet one-on-one with each student, and assign and evaluate learning experiences.